Skaneateles cancer support group hopes for 'flop' at Saturday event

In many respects, the pink-cow bingo fundraiser, which benefits Positively Pink Packages for people recently diagnosed with breast cancer, is much like any other fundraiser.

Beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday at the big red barn at 6401 County Line Road, Skaneateles, there will be raffles, food and plenty of fun for adults and children. There will be live entertainment by local musician Dusty Pas’cal and pony rides for children provided by Claire Afflect Training.

What sets this event apart from other fundraisers is the bingo. There’s no delicate way to explain how cow bingo works.

Two cows, draped in pink blankets, will wander across the arena inside the barn. The arena is divided into squares drawn on the ground. Whoever "owns" the square where the cow "goes" wins the prize for that round of bingo.

"We’re really trying to make this a fun family event," organizer Laurie Ponticello said. "We’re trying to attract a number of different people. We have something for everyone."

Amy Dickinson, better known as syndicated columnist Ask Amy, and author of "The Mighty Queens of Freeville," will sign copies of her book. Dickinson and motivational humorist and best-selling author Yvonne Conte will serve as celebrity judges for contests during the event.

There are a "girls" first-place prize package — gift certificates for restaurants and other retailers — worth $1,000, and a "man-cave" prize that includes Syracuse Chiefs tickets, wine, beer and other "guy stuff" worth $750.

The organization hands out items such as cotton head turbans, satin pillowcases, DVDs, inspirational and educational books, and publications that help patients understand breast cancer, the choices they face and the resources available to help them and their families.

Bingo squares sell for $25 each or five for $100. For those who want to watch but don’t want to play, spectator tickets are $15. Children younger than 16 are admitted free.Advance tickets are on sale at Bijou Salon and Creekside Books & Coffee in Skaneateles, and online through pinkcowbingo.com.

Camillus canal society will host meeting

The Canal Society of New York State will present a historical marker at a ceremony Saturday marking the restoration by the Camillus Canal Society of the 1844 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct.

The dedication is part of a weekend program to be held Friday through Sunday on the aqueducts of Central New York.

Members of the state canal society will arrive Friday for a daytime tour of the Jamesville Quarry, where they will see a blasting of a rock face. That night, the group will hear a program about how to build an aqueduct, which were used to carry water to the Erie Canal system.

On Saturday, the group will tour aqueducts from Centerport to the restored aqueduct in Camillus. The historical marker, donated by the state canal society, will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. at the Camillus aqueduct.That night, Andy Kitzman, former curator at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse and now program manager for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in Waterford, will be the featured speaker at a banquet.

On Sunday, members of the society will have the occasion to visit the old growth forest, Gere’s Lock, the Octagon House and the Martisco Railroad Station as well as kayak and bike along the Canalway Trail.

West Genesee boosters serve spaghetti dinner

West Genesee athletes will set and clear tables, mingle and help the West Genesee Sports Boosters serve their annual spaghetti dinner Monday.

The meal includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, drink, and homemade dessert from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in Cafeteria 1 at the high school.

The $5 tickets, with a maximum of $20 per family, can be purchased at the door.

The volunteers clean and salt the hides and sell them to wholesalers, with the money going to the veterans.Bob Maraio, who runs the program, said the Elks collected a record 438 hides last year.

The money enables the Elks to pay for a luncheon for patients and staff at the hospital every three months, and for toiletry items to restock a cabinet for veterans who don’t have time to buy them or can’t afford them.

Hunters can drop off hides any time at a designated area at the Elks Lodge, 6117 Newport Road, Camillus. The best way to keep the hides from deteriorating is to drop them off in a cardboard box, Maraio said.

Hunters who itemize their tax deductions can receive a certificate for $35 value for the hide as proof of a charitable deduction. Hunters must leave their names and addresses with the hides to receive the tax certificate.

For more information, call the Elks Lodge at 672-3106.

Skaneateles Democrats slate nights to meet candidates

The Democratic Town Committee have scheduled two "neighborhood" meetings to allow members of the community to meet the party’s candidates for town offices in the Nov. 3 general election.

The sessions will be held Wednesday at American Legion Post 317,on Jordan Road, and Oct. 28 at 1632 Stump Road, in Sheppard Settlement. Both sessions run from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Town supervisor candidate Steve Datz, town board candidates Mary Sennett and Jim Williams and highway superintendent candidate Ken Scott will be on hand to meet the public and answer questions.

For more information, contact Jim Williams 685-3359 or at democratsofskaneateles@gmail.com.

Lisa Goodwin to get Mulroy Leadership Award

The Town of Onondaga Republican Committee will hold its annual fall cocktail party from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at Bellevue Country Club.

The event is held annually to raise money for and to support town Republican candidates.

In addition, Onondaga Town Clerk Lisa Goodwin will be presented with the 11th annual John H. Mulroy Leadership Award.

The Dr. Anthony "Doc" Malfitano Award will be given to a committee person who demonstrates the enthusiasm, dedication and hard work ethics that Malfitano had for the Town Republican Committee and its candidates.

For more information or for tickets, contact Don Hamilton at 469-5088.